Tool for inserting and removing the leaves of loose-leaf binders.



G. GOSLIN. TOOL FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING THE LEAVES OF LOOSE LEAF BINDERS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 8. l9|5.

Patented Oct 31, 1916.

n15 Mums p cm. l-nomurnu, wAsmNc mu. D. c.

GEORGE GOSLIN, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK:

TOOL FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING THE LEAVES OF LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS.

ieoassi.

Application filed September 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GosLiN, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tools for Inserting and Removing the Leaves of Loose-Leaf Binders, of which-the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool for inserting and removing the leaves of loose-leaf binders.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, and practical method for expeditiously and easily inserting and removing the leaves, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and practical tool for carrying the method into execution.

A more detailed object is to provide a tool by means of which any one or more leaves may be readily inserted or removed without necessity for deranging the retaining means for the leaves, or without deranging the position of any of the other leaves. With this tool it is unnecessary to release the screws, nuts, or other clamping devices which nor mally hold the leaves in position. In order to insert a leaf at any point in the holder, one has merely to grip the leaf in the tool and thrust the same into the position which it is desired the leaf shall occupy in the holder, while to remove a leaf one has merely to grip the same with the tool and draw it bodily from its position. In neither instance will the leaf be injured or destroyed.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown a merely preferred form of embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool comprised in this invention, illustratmg the same in gripping position upon a leaf, and the whole being illustrated in position for inserting or removing the leaf from a binder, the binder being shown in dotted lines. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (let. 31, 1.916.

Serial No. 49,502.

2 is an enlarged sectional view through a binder illustrating the parts in the position shown in Fig. l, and also illustrating in dotted lines the parts of the tool removed. F g. 3 is an elevational view of the tool; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating the relative proportions and dispositions of the parts as between the clamping means of the binder, the leaves of the binder, and the tool. Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the parts illustrated, the ref erence character L indicates the binder, and G the leaves thereof. The binder may be of any desired type, but for convenience is shown as comprising the top and bottom backings l and 2 between which the leaves G are disposed, being held in position by two or more connecting rods or bolts 3 extending between the backings l and 2, and having suitable means as the nuts 4, through the medium of which the backings may be drawn toward each other for clamping the leaves tightly in position. Any suitable number of leaves may be inserted and held in this manner.

Each of the leaves is provided with a plurality of apertures 5 therein for receiving the connecting rods 3 whereby the leaves are held against accidental displacement at all times. From each of the apertures 5 a slit 6 extends to the marginal edge of the leaf for facilitating passage of the connecting rods in insertin and ren'iovang the leaves, as will be further referred to.

The tool is indicated generally by the reference numeral II and comprises principally a pair of plates or jaws 7 and 8. In use the leaf to be inserted is gripped between these plates or jaws and is thrust into position so that the connecting rods will pass relatively through the slits 6 and into the openings The plates are made preferably of thin sheet metal, and may be manipulated, if desired, to facilitate their being easily slid between other leaves of the holder. In order to facilitate the easy introduction of the leaves in this manner, the jaws are each preferably provided with a pair of slots 9 of a width slightly wider than the diameter of the connecting rods and disposed so as to register with the connecting rods, as indicated particularly in Fig. 1. In order that the maand 13.

terial of-the leaves adjacent the slits 6 may readily yield to pass the connecting rods, the material of the jaws, adjacent the slots 9, is turned slightly, as indicated at 10, in Fig. 3. It is usually sufficient to bend only one of the jaws, but obviously both may be bent as illustrated, if desired.

After a leaf has been inserted as indicated, the plates or jaws are removed one at a time, leaving the leaf within the binder. In case a leaf is to be removed, the jaws or plates are inserted oneat each side of the leaf, and both jaws are withdrawn simultaneously, which action will obviously cause the leaf to be withdrawn also. Of course it will be understood that these plates or jaws may be used without any special handles being provided thereon, but for convenience however, it is desirable to provide a suitable handle. It is therefor a part of this invention to provide a handle by means of which both of the plates may be manipulated-either independently or collectively. To this end one of the plates or jaws, .as 7, is provided with an enlarged portion 11 extending along its rear edge and projecting beyond theopposite ends thereof, as at 12 The other plate or jaw as 8, is provided with a similar enlarged portion 1 1 along its rear edge, also projecting beyond the opposite ends thereof, as at 15 and 1G. Suitable means, as the clips 17, are arranged to detachably retain the projecting portions 12 and 15, and 13 and 16 in juxtaposition.

In the structure illustrated, the enlarged portions 11 and 1% are formed as continuations of the sheet metal from which the jaws .or plates are fashioned, they each being shaped-up as a sem1-c1rcular bead or ridge so that the projecting portions 12 and 15 together and the projecting portions 13 and 16 together, each define a substantially cylindrical body. The clips 17 are formed as further extensions of the parts 15. and 16. The clips are shaped to lit about the exterior semi-cylindrical surfaces of the parts 12 and 18, and, extend preferably for slightly more than half way around the parts 12 and 13. By reason of the resiliency of the material of which they are formed, they are slightly resilient so .as to permit the parts 12 and 18 to be'readily inserted or removed from gripping relation therewith. Then the parts 12 and 13 are inserted, however, the clips serve to hold them snugly in position. It will also be noted that the clips exert a clamping force between the jaws at a point spaced-from the extreme rear edges, as 18 0f the jaws, by which means the forward edges of the jaws are maintained pressed toward each other and into gripping relation with a leaf which may be at any time disposed therebetween.

In order to guide the jaws or plates 7 and 8 relatively to each other in operation, so that the slots 9 of the two jaws will register, I preferably form the clips 17 with undercut grooves 19 therein for receiving the marginal end edges of the jaw 7.

It will be seen from the above, that I have provided a tool comprising essentially two parts separately formed and easily detachable from each other for effecting the successful operation thereof, and at the same time I have provided means whereby these two parts may be held normally in engagement with each other, so that the tool may be handled as a single entity, and I have so shaped the connecting means between the parts of the tool as to maintain the parts in a proper assembled relation to each other in which the leaves of the binder are gripped with a suflicient degree of firmness for all practical purposes. At the same time I have formed a tool of such shape as to be of attractive appearance and of exceedingly small cost to manufacture.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all. matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

In order to smooth out or flatten again the edges of the leaf where the same have been more or less rumpled by passing the connecting rods 3 it may be desirable in some instances to provide for a slight lateral movement of the plates 7 and S relative to each other. For this purpose I have illustrated the upper ends of the slots 9 to be elongated as at 20 transversely of the length of the slots. The plates may thus be shifted in both directions prior to being removed and the edges of the slots 9 will effectually smooth down the rumpled edges of the paper.

In order to provide for an easy lateral movement of the plate I have shown the undercut grooves 19 to be slightly wider than the width of the plate 7 so that said plate 7 may be readily shifted by means of the handle part connected thereto.

The modification Fig. 5 indicates a device for automatically smoothing down the rumpled edges of the paper without necessity for lateral movement of the plates. This device includes a pair of jaws 21 pivotally connected to the plate 7 adjacent the slot 9 therein. These jaws have heel portions as 22 interlocking for producing simultaneous operation thereof and these heel portions stand in position to be engaged by the connecting rod 3 when the plate is introduced over said connecting rod. As the rod presses against the heel the forward ends of the arms will be moved together against the tension of a leafspring or the like 23 and will thereby smooth out the paper. Of course one of these devices will be preferably arranged at each of the slots 9 in the plates 7 and 8.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool of the class described, consisting of leaf gripping means comprising a pair of jaws for engaging the leaf between them, said jaws being each flat and smooth so as to be readily inserted between the bound portions of other leaves in the binder, and a handle for said tool made up of interengaging parts carried by said jaws.

2. A tool of the class described, consisting of leaf gripping means comprising a pair of jaws for engaging the leaf between them, said jaws being each flat and smooth so as to be readily inserted between the bound portions of other leaves in the binder, and a handle for said tool made up of two parts, one part carried by each of said jaws, the part carried by one of said jaws extending into gripping relation with the part carried by the other of said aws.

3. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, a handle portion for said jaws, said handle being made up of two parts one of said parts being formed integrally with one of said jaws and the other of said parts being formed integrally with the other of said jaws, and the part formed integrally with one jaw having a resilient portion extending. therefrom to embrace the part formed integrally with the other jaw to separably connect said jaws.

at. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, a handle portion for said jaws, said handle portion being formed partly upon one of said jaws and partly upon the other of said jaws, and comprising means whereby said jaws are separably connected together.

A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, a handle portion for said jaws, said handle portion being formed partly upon one of said jaws and partly upon the other of said aws, and means whereby said jaws with their respective handle portions are separably connected together, said last mentioned means also serving to urge said jaws toward each other.

6. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, a handle portion for said aws, said handle portion being formed partly upon one of said jaws and partly upon the other of said jaws, and means whereby said jaws with their respective handle portions are separably connected together, said means comprising a clip carried by one of said handle portions and extending into engagement with the other of said handle portions.

7. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, a handle portion for said jaws, said handle portion being formed partly upon one of said jaws and partly upon the other of said jaws, and means whereby said jaws with their respective handle portions are separably connected together, said connecting means being resilient to urge said jaws toward each other.

8. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for gripping a leaf between them, semi-cylindrical handle portions formed upon each of said jaws arranged to collectively form a substantially cylindrical handle for the tool, and means connecting said semi-cylindrical handle portions together, serving to urge the jaws toward each other.

9. A toolof the class described, comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grip a leaf between them, each of said jaws being formed of a single sheet of material bent at one of its edges to form a handle portion thereon, and means for connecting the handle portions of the respective jaws together so as to constitute a complete handle for the tool.

10. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grip a leaf between them, each of said jaws being formed of a single sheet of material bent at one of its edges to form a handle portion thereon, and means for connecting the handle portions of the respective jaws together so as to constitute a complete handle for the tool, said last mentioned means comprising an integral extension of the sheet of material from which one of said jaws is formed.

11. A tool of the class described, comprising a. pair of separately formed aws slidable relatively to each other, a part of one of said jaws being disposed to engage a part of the other of said jaws to cooperate therewith in forming a handle for said tool when said jaws are slid to one position.

12. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of separately formed jaws slidable relatively to each other, and guide means for guiding said jaws, said guide means permitting sliding movement of said jaws in all directions.

13. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of separately formed jaws adapted to receive a leaf between them and to serve as means for introducing said leaf over the connecting rod. of a binder, and means for smoothing down portions of said leaf adjacent the connecting rod which may be rumpled incident to the introduction of the leaf over the connecting rod, said means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted jaws having heel portions to be engaged by the connecting rod of the binder for swinging the jaws.

14. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of separately formed jaws adapted to receive a leaf between them and to serve as means for introducing said leaf over the connecting rod of a binder, and said jaws being slidable relatively to each other and comprising means whereby said sliding movement will smooth down portions of said leaf adjacent the connecting rod which may be rumpled incident to the introduction of the leaf over the connecting rod.

15. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of jaws for engaging a leaf between them, and a handle portion for said jaws made up of two parts, said parts being formed respectively upon said two jaws and one of said parts having a resilient portion projecting therefrom to embrace the other part, the resiliency of said portion being adapted to urge said parts together whereby to maintain said two jaws in close juxtaposition.

16. A tool of the class described, comprising a pair of separately formed j aws, a handle portion for said jaws formed partly upon one of said jaws, each of said jaws being formed of a flat sheet of material, one of said jaws being adapted to slide along one of the fiat surfaces of the other of said jaws, and guide means comprised in said handle portion for engagement by portions of the other of said jaws to guide the sliding move ment of said jaws.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE GOSLIN. lVitnesses FRANK L. HAsHAL, EDWARD J. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

* Washington, D. C. 

